LaHood named Distinguished Fellow at IPL, Bradley University

Ray LaHood, who served on President Barack Obama's cabinet after 14 years representing Peoria in Congress, was named the first Honorary Senior Distinguished Fellow for the Institute for Principled Leadership in Public Service at Bradley University.

LaHood, who recently stepped down as U.S. Secretary of Transportation, was the first Bradley graduate and first Peoria native to serve on a presidential cabinet.

As Senior Distinguished Fellow LaHood will participate in national public policy symposiums on Bradley's campus and guest lecture to Bradley students.

"I am excited and proud to be associated with the work the Institute is doing at Bradley University," said LaHood, who received a Bachelor of Science degree in education and sociology from Bradley in 1971 and served on the Bradley Board of Trustees from 1999-2006. "I consider this a really great honor, to be affiliated with my alma mater and with the Institute. I believe in what they are doing there," he said.

LaHood says he has a deep fondness for Bradley, which is where he met his wife Kathy, and believes the Institute for Principled Leadership in Public Service at Bradley "can inspire a new generation of public service leaders to use a bipartisan and collaborative approach to resolving America's toughest issues."

He added that public service can be a notable profession worthy of the best and brightest graduates. That is why he was interested when Brad McMillan, executive director of the IPL who was LaHood's chief of staff when he was in Congress, approached him about being involved after leaving the Department of Transportation.

LaHood, a native of Peoria, was U.S. Representative from the 18th District from 1994 through 2008 when he chose not to seek re-election. He became Secretary of Transportation under President Obama in 2009. The only Republican in the Obama cabinet, he led a 60,000-employee agency that regulates American aviation, highways, railroads, public transit, seaways, traffic safety and pipelines, among other modes of transportation.

"The outstanding 36 year public service career of former Secretary Ray LaHood embodies the kind of principled leadership Bradley University seeks to develop in our students as they become the next generation of public service leaders," said Bradley University President Joanne Glasser.

Brad McMillan, executive director of IPL said, "Ray LaHood is the first Bradley alumnus asked to serve in a President's cabinet. He served with great distinction in the U.S. Congress for 14 years and his experiences in the public service arena will be of great benefit to Bradley students."

LaHood was known in Washington for providing bipartisan leadership on issues. President Obama noted that, as well, when he said during a news conference that "Ray LaHood is an outstanding public servant who is a role model for the bipartisan leadership America so desperately needs."

LaHood modeled his career after some central Illinois leaders who he felt embodied that spirit of bipartisanship. "I doubt when I graduated from Spalding (High School) that very many people knew who Ray LaHood even was. But it has been my ability to work with people in a bipartisan manner that has been the key to my successful career," he said.

He said the people of central Illinois should be proud that we have sent so many great officials to Washington and Springfield who are willing to work across party lines and compromise. "Bipartisanship is part of the rich political history of this region going back to Lincoln, who got Congress to pass Emancipation. Without U.S. Senate Minority Leader Everett Dirksen, the Civil Rights Act never could've happened. And we can't forget Bob Michel, who worked with Tip O'Neill and Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton," LaHood said.

The Dirksen Congressional Center called LaHood's career one of distinction especially giving credit to his parliamentary knowledge and fair demeanor, citing one of the hallmarks of his career in Congress as his ability to bring a varied group of people together to work for the good of a community, the State, or on a particular issue. LaHood co-founded the Bipartisan Congressional Retreat, was a leader among the members of the Illinois Congressional delegation on issues important to the State, and convened meetings of local State legislators and elected officials to work on the priorities of local communities.

The Institute for Principled Leadership in Public Service at Bradley University promotes a return to statesmanship at all levels of government. Its goal is to become a Midwestern think tank advocating for a bipartisan leadership approach to resolve America's most pressing problems.

LaHood said he is still working to finalize the next chapter of his life. He is writing a book about his career and has found a publisher, with co-author Frank Mackaman, director of the Dirksen Center.

"I intend to stay busy. We'll be splitting our time between Peoria and Washington," he said.

East Peoria seeking an arts presence

The owner of the building on Globe Street in East Peoria that once housed the UAW Local 974 union hall could pretty much put anything he wants there. The building, a 10,000 square-foot, one-story structure, enjoys what he calls "the most liberal zoning the city has."

So what is the building owner, former East Peoria mayor Jeff Giebelhausen, going to put there? Why, art studios, of course. In fact, he envisions that building and the small residential neighborhood surrounding it becoming its own artists' colony, sort of a Greenwich Village.

"Hey, why not? I like to think outside the box and when it was suggested this might be a good place for an artists' colony, I figured we could try it and see what happens," Giebelhausen said on Thursday night, when he hosted an open house that he hoped would draw a lot of local artists.

It didn't, but it didn't have a whole lot of advance publicity, either. A few artists came and looked, all talked with Giebelhausen and left with schematic drawings of the space. A couple local community theatre leaders showed, as well, to look at the 6,000 square-foot space that was the auditorium for Local 974, including a small stage.

A couple reporters showed up to check out the space and to meet the first artist who has committed to leasing studio space, Steve Boyd, who lives nearby in East Peoria. "I'm ready to step in deep. I think this is something we need here. In fact, because of the way the city embraces new business and entrepreneurs here, I think East Peoria could eventually become the cultural center of central Illinois," Boyd said.

Boyd, who calls his art business LivBig Studios, also will become the managing artist for the building that is tentatively being called Levee Arts District. That's because it is only about a block from the city's new downtown area called the Levee District, the proximity being one of the reasons Giebelhausen bought the building a year and a half ago.

"When I bought it my plan was to convert it to residential apartments. But the neighbors were misinformed about what I intended and opposed it. I could have moved ahead anyway, but why start out on the wrong foot? So I stepped back and was trying to decide whether to sell it or lease as warehouse space," he said.

That's when he met Boyd, who learned of the building from East Peoria officials when he was inquiring about the possibility of space for artists within or near the Levee District. "Steve liked the space, I liked the idea, and here we are," Giebelhausen said.

The building, which is next door to the Altorfer Caterpillar dealership and near Caterpillar factories, has been repainted and landscaped. Artists who lease space will decide what to do with their studios, of which there are 14 ranging in size from 66 square feet to 420 square feet. Many of the spaces have individual garage doors to the outside.

Rents range from $150 a month for a small windowless unit to $260. Additional costs are added for window air conditioning units or other amenities.

Giebelhausen plans to do some work in the auditorium space so it can be rented for events, such as performances or wedding receptions.

He also hopes to some day be able to acquire surrounding houses, some of which are rental properties, and rent them to artists, either as living space or additional studio space.

Boyd said he envisions a setting similar to Nashville, Ind., the Brown County village where many artists live and work. "It's a community of artists and it's a whole different atmosphere. That's what I think we can do here," he said.

He wants to eventually have arts classes and showings, involving the tenants of the building. He said he envisions the artists opening their studios on nights where there is an event going on in the auditorium.

Boyd, who has had studio space in Peoria, is a painter, using acrylics and colored pencils, who has mostly had to do art as a hobby because of other responsibilities. A massage therapist by trade, he looks forward to the day he can be a full-time professional artist, something he said his wife is pushing him to do. "She told me a few years ago that 'it's now or never.' She is a huge supporter. So I started reinventing myself and here I stand," he said.

"Being a professional artist has been a lifelong endeavor and something like this is a dream for me. 'Live Big' has always been a personal motto and I know this is something I can do," Boyd said. "I might take some lumps along the way, but most artists do. Why not here?"

Artists who are interested in seeing the space can call or text Giebelhausen at (309) 657-9371.

'Company' by Stephen Sondheim to wrap Corn Stock summer season

Of the challenges that faced Nate Downs, who directed the musical "Company" at Corn Stock Theatre, the Stephen Sondheim music was not among them.

"The music is wonderful; it's pure Sondheim. These aren't the best known songs is musical theater, but they are songs you can sing while you walk around clean your house. Audiences will appreciate it," said Downs, who added he wants to eventually direct every musical Sondheim wrote. He previously directed "Sweeney Todd" at Corn Stock's Winter Playhouse. "He isn't considered commercially appealing but he is a theater lover's composer and lyricist."

The music and lyrics won Tony Awards for Sondheim in 1971.

"Company" opens Friday at 7:30 p.m. and continues through Aug. 31 at the Corn Stock tent in Upper Bradley Park. It is the final show of the 2013 summer season.

Tickets are on sale at the Corn Stock box office for $18 for adults and $12 for students. They can be reserved by calling 676- 2196 or by visiting www.cosntocktheatre.com.

The challenges to directing "Company" lie in the way it is written. "It was one of the first 'concept musicals,' which means that there isn't a strong story line. Rather, there is a strong theme and the story is told in vignettes that follow the theme. The theme in this case is whether 35-year-old Bobby should follow the example of his married friends and have a committed relationship. We view the relationships of five different couples as seen through Bobby's eyes," Downs said.

The cast of 19 includes newcomers to the tent as well as some well-known community theatre veterans.

Todd Michael Cook, a native of Peoria who has been doing professional theatre off-Broadway in New York, is portraying Bobby. Other tent newcomers include Joel Shoemaker and Carolyn Briggs-Gaul, who portray one of the five couples, and George and Lori Maxedon, who portray another couple.

Corn Stock veterans in the cast include Dave Schick, Lisa Warner Jeans, Liz Jockisch and Chris Adams Wenger.

Also, Jerry Johnson, at one time a top leading man in local musicals after a stint on Broadway in his younger years, is back on stage with his first role in a decade. Another community theatre favorite, Cheri Beever, portrays his wife.

"I adore those two. It has been such fun working with them and their chemistry is great," Downs said.

Portraying Bobby's girlfriends are Kate Erin Kennedy, Mariah Thornton and Lindsey Cheney. The pit singers are Andrew Schoepke, Fred Schoen, Mindy Watkins, Samantha Zobrist and Kyle King.

Another challenge has been developing personalities in the characters. Downs said little is known about the couples themselves, leaving him and the actors to develop them through the dialogue. The same is true with Bobby, he said.

"One of the criticisms of this show has always been that Bobby is not easily likable or sympathetic. So we have worked on making him a person with charm, charisma and humor to get the audience to want to go on this journey with him. The couples all have flawed relationships but they love each other, but we don't know at the end whether Bobby decides to stay single because of them or get into a committed relationship because of them. It's an open question," Downs said.

The questions about the characteristics of the characters made casting a challenge, as well. "I just look at each person's nature and their personality traits and decided based on a how I believed they would work for each character and with their partners. Part of the fun of directing is getting to use your own interpretation. It has been fun exploring each character with this cast," he said.

He added there is enough diversity in the five couples and three girlfriends that everybody in the audience should be able to relate to somebody. "Mostly, I want the audience to come away from the show being thankful for whatever relationship they have or, if they are single, they will be hopeful there is someone out there for them," he said.

Leading the 10-piece orchestra is music director Adam Windish. "He is amazing with this music and bringing it alive," Downs said.

Among the songs is the title song "Company," "Someone is Waiting," "Side by Side by Side", and "Being Alive."

The set is the skyline of Manhattan and is otherwise minimalistic. The costumes are period, the 1970s, and hipster. "They complement each other well.

Downs said the show is being dedicated to the memory of Sean Howell, who died July 11 after a brief illness shortly after being cast in the show. He was 40.

Nothing common about Goodwill Commons

Walk into the new Goodwill Commons on War Memorial Drive and you will immediately be struck by how modern and professional the former Goodwill retail store looks.

With new flooring, paint, furniture and so forth, it is nothing like the warehouse-type facility it once was and what people using its services were used to.

That's the way it was planned, said officials of Goodwill Industries of Central Illinois, when discussing the building that houses executive offices, meeting rooms and the classrooms and is the headquarters for the 21-county region it serves.

"We believed it was important that the people we serve — veterans, those in need of a job or improving their skills — feel that they are respected, because they are. We want them to know we value them and give them the opportunity to walk into a nice work environment," said Bob Parkhurst, vice president of administration for Goodwill of Central Illinois.

"We want our clients to feel good about themselves, help build their self-esteem. If they come here, where it is now more of an educational environment like they might see at college, they will know they are worth it," added Bill Bontemps, director of vocational services.

Goodwill Commons took a year to complete, converting what was originally a Caterpillar tractor dealership and then a Goodwill retail store and warehouse into a well-lit, nicely appointed modern office building. It cost $4.5 million, financed through tax-exempt bond funding and PNC Bank. Much of the planning and design work was donated, the latter by Lincoln Office Supply, to the not-for-profit organization that in most ways is typical of Goodwill.

For example, 93 percent of the Goodwill of Central Illinois revenues are from donated goods that are resold through the nine retail stores (with two more being developed) in the region that stretches from the Mississippi River across to nearly the Indiana border. In 2012 those stores generated $9 million in sales and revenues. Another 6 percent of the organization's revenues are from government grants and the remainder is from direct monetary donations, Parkhurst said.

That model, he added, is basically the same as was set up by Goodwill Industries founder Rev. Edgar Helms. He set up thrift stores in the Boston area in 1902 to sell donated items after he learned that immigrants into the United States didn't want handouts. "Like then, Goodwill today exists largely because of the generosity of the individual," Parkhurst said.

Bontemps noted that the business model enables Goodwill to operate without relying too heavily on government grants. "That's comforting to know and while some other agencies have had to cut back when grant money gets cut, we've been able to expand what we do," he said.

Last year Goodwill of Central Illinois received more than 267,500 donations and recycled nearly 4 million pounds worth of goods. Parkhurst said donated items often are shipped to be sold or donated elsewhere, often in foreign countries.

Of its vocational services, 2012 was the agency's busiest year to date as it served more than 2,300 people in central Illinois. From those, 76 homeless veterans found jobs from the more than 170 who were clients of the agency's veteran services program, and 136 homeless veterans were served at the Stand Down for Homeless Veterans event last fall in which they received a hot meal, a shower, winter clothing and materials and other services.

Many homeless veterans, from their 20s into their 60s, stayed for a period at the Gen. Wayne A. Downing Home for Veterans, which Goodwill opened at 403 S. Olive St. in Peoria in 2005. It was the first permanent home of its kind in Illinois. The goal is to get the veterans integrated back into the workplace with jobs training and other assistance.

The agency's Beyond Jobs programs targets female clients, helping them learn new job skills as well as career planning advice to find new or better jobs. That program receives grant funding from WalMart, as well.

The two skills taught most are computer operation skills and forklift operation. Goodwill Commons is the place for both, with three new computer classrooms and warehouse space to teach forklift operations, with certificates presents upon completion to make finding a job easier. There were 611 individuals who learn new computer skills in 2012 and 718 who were certified in forklift operation.

Goodwill of Central Illinois also has youth mentoring programs, targeting at-risk youth ages 12 to 17 and helping them with career planning, post-secondary training and other skills while working with adult mentors. There are new facilities for the mentoring program at Goodwill Commons.

There are also learning centers in Galesburg at 1931 Grand Ave. and in Pekin at 3245 Court St.

Parkhurst said the new Peoria learning center enables Goodwill to hold classes and workshops more frequently than before, meaning more people can be served. Already, added Bontemps, 48 veterans who had never been to Goodwill before have come to Goodwill Commons, which has only been open about a month. "The word is getting out that we are here and that we want to help," he said.

One of the keys to the success of Goodwill programming, Bontemps said, is that the agency follows up with its clients after they have completed programs and secured jobs. "We want to make sure they are adjusting to each other and intervene if there are problems. We want the programs to work and if that's how it gets done, we'll do it," he said.

Bontemps has been director of vocation services for about five years. He has a degree in accounting, has worked at Caterpillar and the former Wabco Co. as well as in marketing at Bradley University. The experience he has gained has helped in this position, but mostly, he said, "I see people in need I want to help them."

Parkhurst said that is the attitude of Goodwill of Central Illinois in general, its staff of 325 and its volunteers. "We are always in need of good volunteers, of course, especially in our youth mentoring program. But Goodwill is doing amazing things every day, whether its here or in the other 165 independently operated, community based Goodwill center across the country and Canada. We all take inspiration from each other to do the best job we can" he said.